Valve assembly for fire extinguisher



Feb. 27, 1968 A. RODGERS 3,370,326

VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed May l8, 1965 F'le.2.

INVENTOR. ARTHUR RODGERS W! padrozya A TTORNEYS United States Patent ()1 3,370,826 VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHER Arthur Rodgers, Northbrook, Ill., assiguor, by mesne assignments, to General Fire Extinguisher Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 18, 1965, Ser. No. 456,753 6 'Claims. (Cl. 251148) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A valve assembly for a fire extinguisher cooperating with a swivel type discharge pipe in which the fluid connection between the valve outlet passage and the discharge pipe is integral with the valve body.

This invention generally relates to portable type fire extinguishers, and more particularly concerns an improved valve assembly particularly adaptable for use with pressurized fire extinguishers of the type in which, for example, carbon dioxide or freon is used as the extinguishing agent.

It is, of course, important with extinguishers of the aforementioned type that the extinguishing gas be directed properly at the source of the fire. In consequence, it is usual practice to provide a swivel type discharge pipe and attached horn which may be rotated relative to the extinguisher as a whole and directed towards the most desirable area for quickly extinguishing the fire.

In the usual extinguisher construction, the swivel unit is mounted on a discharge fitting which protrudes from the front of the valve body. In other words, the swivel unit is interposed between the discharge pipe and the valve body, the latter being coupled to the opening in the neck of the fire extinguisher shell or tank. In alternate constructions, the swivel assembly is mounted so as to communicate through one sidewall of the valve body with an elbow-like arrangement.

The present invention has several objectives.

A most important'object of the present invention is to provide a swivel assembly for portable fire extinguishers which may be more economically manufactured with a fewer number of parts, and yet which provides a construction which is maintenance-free, rugged, and easy to operate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved swivel assembly for portable fire extinguishers using, for example, pressurized gases as the extinguishing agent, in which the swivel assembly may be removed while the extinguisher is in a pressurized condition without any danger of unidirectional escape of pressurized gases in the event of any malfunction in the valve unit which might cause a dangerous recoil of the extinguisher.

Still a further object of the present invention is' to provide an improved swivel assembly for a portable fire extinguisher in which some savings in space is effected by the reduction in number of parts and in which certain parts are given dualfunctions.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are generally achieved by providing in a portable type fire extinguisher, the combination of a valve body which defines an internal plunger passage designed to communicate with the neck opening in the fire extinguisher shell, together with a plunger slidably disposed in said valve body and biased towards a position such that a valve carried thereby is designed to close off the passage until actuated, for example, by a conventional operating lever to an openposition. This combination,- as thus far described, is well known in the art.

Applicants improved features designed to co-function 3,373,826 Patented Feb. 27, 1968 with this combination include providing a laterally extending bore communicating with the passage and being designed to receive the swivel assembly forming an important feature of the present invention. The swivel assembly includes a swivel shaft dimensioned to be sealably journaled within the bore, and the shaft as such includes passage means communicating with the plunger internal passage in the valve body.

The swivel shaft embodies a protruding portion at one end which extends beyond the valve body, and a discharge pipe is designed to be coupled to the protruding portion and to communicate with the passage means therein,

In this manner, the bore within the valve body actually acts as a means of journalling the swivel unit instead of the swivel unit being coupled to a discharge fitting, for example, on the front of the valve body, as has been conventional in at least one prior art construction. Thus, in this instance, the valve body actually is the swivel mounting, whereas in the prior constructions, a separate mounting member was employed.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings, disclosing merely one illustrative embodiment, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a valve body including the improved swivel assembly therein; and,

FIGURE 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating more clearly the features of the swivel assembly embodied in the valve,

body of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1, a valve body 10 designed to be threadingly coupled to a fire extinguisher shell S in the usual manner. The valve body 10 has, in accordance with conventional practice, a carrying handle 11 coupled thereto as well as an operating lever 12 pivotably connected to its upper portion. The valve body 10 may further incorporate a safety disc nut 13.

Also, in conformance with usual practice, the valve body 10 has mounted therein for slidable movement, a plunger unit 14 which is biased towards its upper position by a spring member 15 so that a valve 16 carried at the lower end of the plunger is normally in a closed position. The plunger 14 is operated by downward actuation of the operating lever 12 after a pull-pin normally inserted through the opening 17 in the valve body (aligned with a similar opening in the operating lever 12) is removed. This combination, as thus far described, of and by itself, forms no part of the present invention and is known in the art.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a laterally extending bore 18 is provided in the valve body to receive a swivel shaft member 19, as more clearly seen in the view of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the view of FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the swivel shaft member 19 is provided near its center portion with an annular groove 20 around its periphery which is designed to communicate with a passage 21 encircling the plunger 14. The annular groove, as such, communicates with cross-drilled, diametrically extending passages 22.

The passages 22 in turn communicate with an axially extending passage 23 bored in the swivel shaft 19. In order to form passage 23, a collar 23 is provided at the end of the shaft 19. After the passage 23 is drilled, the collar 23 is spun over into the construction shown.

The axial passage 23 communicates at its lower end, as viewed in FIGURE 2, through a threaded opening 24 with a discharge pipe 25 of the usual construction,

The discharge pipe 25 may be provided with threading Considering now the mounting of the swivel shaft 19 within the valve body 10, it Will be noted from FIGURE 2, at the upper portion thereof, that the shaft is fitted with a fiber washer 28, a steel washer 29, and a lock washer 30, while near its-other end it may be provided with a washer 31. Over the washer 30 is provided a nut 32.- The fiber washer 28 is provided to control friction,

while the steel Washer is provided for a backing to the fiber washer. In certain circumstances, the steel washer may not be necessary. Theshaft may be appropriately provided with O-rings 33 and 34 in order to prevent any possibility of leakage. Of course, the particular manner in which the swivel shaft 19 is mounted in the bore 18 and coupled thereto may be varied in mechanical details. 7 In operation, after removal of the pull-pin from the opening 17, the operating lever 12 is actuated downwardly to open the valve 16 and allow the pressurized gases from the extinguisher to escape upwardly through the'plunger passage21, into the annular groove 20, andgroove 20, that swivelling movement of the swivel shaft 19 and attached discharge pipe 25 will always maintain fluid communication between these members.

With this type of construction, it will be evident that the valve body,10, as such, is used as a means of retaining the swivel shaft 19 and of journaling same for rotation. Thus, no need is required for a fitting extending from thevalve bodyv to which must additionally be attached another member for holding the swivel shaft 19 with the resultant additional expense in parts and production.

It should also be noted that during manufacture of the extinguisher, it. is the usual practice to charge the extinguisher before the swivel unit is mounted therein. With the construction as heretofore described, in the event of any leakage past the valve 16, it will be seen that the gaseous extinguishing agent will be expelled from both ends of the .boref18so that no recoil occurs with respect to the extinguisher. Thus, as contrasting certain prior art devices, in which the swivel member is coupledto an opening withan elbow type arrangement wherein no bore extends'through the valve'body, no possibility of dangerous. movement of the extinguisher occurs with this construction.

ltwillbefirrther appreciated that by not providing an 1; In a fiiecxtinguisher, including a shell having 'a neck opening therein, the combination comprising: a valve body defining-an internal passage communicating with saidopening of said fire extinguisher shell; a plunger slidably disposed in said valve body; a valve carried by said plunger designed in a first position to close off said' passage and in a second position to open up said passage; a boreextendinglaterally through said valve body, said bore communicating with said passage upstream of said valve; a swivel shaftsealably journaled in said bore, said swivel shaft defining passage means communicating with said internal passage, said swivel shaft having a protruding portion at one end extending beyond said valve body;

and, adischarge pipe coupled to said protruding portion and communicating with said latter mentioned passage means. a

2. In a fire extinguisher, including 'a shell having a neck opening therein, the combination comprising: a valve body defining first passage means designed tocomm unicate with said opening in said fire extinguisher shell; a plunger slidably disposed in said valve body; a valve carried by said plunger designed in a first position to close off said first passage means andin a second position to open up'saidfirstpassage means; a boreextending laterally through said valve body, said bore communicating with said passageupstreamofsaid-valve; a' swivel-shaft sealably journaled in said bore,-said swivel-"shaft defining second passagemeans communicating with said first passage means, said swivel shaft'b'eingdesigned for swivelling movement in said bore; a discharge pipe coupled to one end .of said swivel shaft, said discharge pipe sealably communicatingwith said second passage means,

3. The combination according to claim 2," in which said swivel shaft is providedwith' a-protruding portion'at one end extending 'beyond said valve body; and in Whichsaid discharge pipe is coupled to said protruding portion with said discharge'pipe communicating with said fsecond .passage means.

4. In a fire extinguisher, including a shell having a neck opening. therein' the combination comprising: a valve body defining .first passage meansdesigned to communicate'with'said- 'opening in said fire extinguishershell; a-

plunger slidably disposed in saidvalve body; .a valve carried by said plunger designed in a firstposition to close off said first passage means and in a second position to open up said first "passage means;-a-b'ore extending .laterally through-said valve body, said bore communicating movement within said-valve body; a discharge pipe coupled :to said protruding 7 portion communicating with said secondv passage means.

5. In afire 'extinguisher, including'a shell having a neckopening. thereinpthe combination comprising: a valve body-defining first passage means designed to communicate'with said-opening in said fire-extinguisherv shell; a plunger slidably disposedin-said valve body; a valve carried by said; plungerv designed-in a first position to close offsaid first passage'- means and-in a second posi tion-to open up-isaid first passage means; a bore extending, laterally through said val-ve body, said bore communicat+ ing withsaid-passage upstream of said valve; a swivel shaftsealably'joumaled .insaid'bore, said swivel shaft defining second passage means communicating with said first passage means, said swivel shaft having a protruding portion at onev endextendingi-beyond "said valve body; I

said second passage means includingzan annular groove about saidswivel shaft designed-to be rnaintained in constant communication-withsaid first passagemeans regardless of therotative position of said swivel shaft; a dis-- charge .pipe coupled to said protruding portion and communicating. with-"said second passage means- 6. The combination according to claim 5, and crossdrilled passages communicatingwithsaid annular groove as a part of saidfsecond passagemeans; and, an axially I drilled passage in said swivel shaft communicatingrwith said cross-drilled passages and saiddischarge pipe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 3,101,188 8/1963 1 N'eWmille'r' 2 51'148 FOREIGN PATENTS 713,689 8/1931 France;-

M. CARY, NELSON, Primary Examiner. W- N As i tqnt'limmincr. 

